Consumer bankruptcy costs in 2026: court, lawyer and trustee

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

The main cost of consumer bankruptcy is legal assistance: according to price lists, the median cost of preparing an application is PLN 3,500, with a typical range of PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500. The court fee for the application is only PLN 30, while full legal assistance through to debt discharge costs around PLN 7,250. The trustee's fee is paid from the bankruptcy estate, not out of the debtor's own pocket.

Consumer bankruptcy is not expensive in terms of court fees, but preparing for it can be costly. The application itself requires a list of creditors, an inventory of assets, an explanation of the causes of insolvency and documents from banks, and an error in any of these elements can delay the case by months. This is why most people use a lawyer, whose fee is the main expense. Below, we break down the costs into court fees, lawyer’s fees and trustee’s fees, and explain what happens when the debtor has no assets. The figures are medians from public law firm price lists and guides.

What are the costs of consumer bankruptcy?

Consumer bankruptcy costs consist of three parts: the court fee (PLN 30), the lawyer’s fee (typically PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500 for the application) and the costs of the proceedings, including the trustee’s fee, which are covered from the bankruptcy estate. Before bankruptcy is declared, you therefore usually pay only the first two items out of your own pocket.

Item	Cost	Who pays and when
Court fee for the application	PLN 30	the debtor, when filing the application
Legal consultation before making a decision	PLN 300	the debtor, as a one-off payment
Application prepared by a lawyer	PLN 3,500 (typically PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500)	the debtor, usually before filing
Full legal assistance through to debt discharge	PLN 7,250	the debtor, often in instalments
Trustee’s fee and costs of the proceedings	set by the court	covered from the bankruptcy estate

There are also minor expenses that price lists usually do not include, such as bank certificates, correspondence and travel to court. These are small amounts compared with the lawyer’s fee, but it is worth asking whether the law firm includes them in its price.

How much does a lawyer charge for consumer bankruptcy?

The median fee charged by a lawyer for preparing and filing a consumer bankruptcy application is PLN 3,500, while half of the offers collected fall within the range of PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500. According to the 5 price lists and guides collected by indekscen.pl, the cheapest offers start at PLN 900, while the most expensive reach PLN 6,000.

This wide range is due to differences in the scope of the service. The lowest rates usually cover only the application and its attachments, without further handling of the case. Higher rates include an assessment of the situation, consultations, contact with the trustee and assistance during subsequent stages. According to price lists, full legal assistance through to debt discharge costs around PLN 7,250, while representation by a lawyer in such a case costs around PLN 4,000.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Factors affecting the lawyer’s fee:

1. Number of creditors. Several loans from one bank make for a simpler case than a dozen loans, payday loans and debts subject to bailiff enforcement.
2. Assets to be liquidated. A flat, car or share in a property requires more work both when preparing the application and during the proceedings.
3. Scope of the service. Preparing the application alone has one price, while handling the case through to debt discharge has another, usually significantly higher, price.
4. City and the firm’s experience. Rates are higher in large cities, but firms specialising in bankruptcy have established procedures.
5. History of the debt. If the debts arose in circumstances that the court may consider negligent, the case requires more careful justification.

How much does consumer bankruptcy cost with no assets?

The initial cost of consumer bankruptcy with no assets is the same as in any other case: the court fee of PLN 30 and, if applicable, a lawyer’s fee, usually PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500 for the application. Having no assets does not prevent a person from declaring bankruptcy. If the debtor cannot cover the costs of the proceedings, the State Treasury may advance them temporarily, and the court later decides whether and to what extent the debtor must repay them, for example under a repayment plan.

An application may be simpler when there are no assets, as there is nothing to value or sell. In such cases, a cheaper service is therefore more often sufficient: preparation of the application alone instead of full legal assistance. Full legal assistance costing around PLN 7,250 makes more sense when there are assets to liquidate or creditors may challenge the application.

How do you declare consumer bankruptcy, and can you do it yourself?

Consumer bankruptcy is declared by a district court’s commercial division at the debtor’s request. The application is usually submitted electronically through the National Register of Debtors, and the application fee is PLN 30. You can file the application yourself, without a lawyer. The steps are as follows:

1. Gather the documents: credit and loan agreements, demands for payment, letters from a bailiff and proof of income.
2. Prepare a list of creditors with the amounts owed and the dates on which the debts became due.
3. Describe your assets (including assets you do not have, for example stating that you have no property or car) and the causes of your insolvency.
4. File and pay for the application; the easiest way is electronically through the National Register of Debtors.
5. Wait for the court’s decision declaring bankruptcy; the trustee then handles the case.

Filing the application yourself saves PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500 in legal fees, but requires time and accuracy. A sensible compromise may be a single legal consultation costing around PLN 300: a lawyer will assess your situation and point out what must not be omitted from the application, while you do the rest yourself. Do not treat this article as legal advice; ask a lawyer about the details of your case.

How long does consumer bankruptcy take?

Consumer bankruptcy usually takes from over a year to several years, with the repayment plan being the main factor determining the duration. The court’s consideration of the application itself usually takes from several weeks to several months. The trustee then establishes the list of claims and liquidates any assets, after which the court sets a repayment plan, usually for no longer than three years. If the debtor incurred the debt intentionally or through gross negligence, the plan may be longer.

Consumer bankruptcy with no assets usually takes less time because there is no liquidation stage. If the debtor’s circumstances are permanent, for example because of illness or age, the court may discharge the debts without setting a repayment plan.

The duration of the proceedings also affects the cost of legal assistance. With full legal assistance costing around PLN 7,250, the lawyer handles the case throughout all its stages, so in lengthy proceedings a fixed fee is often better value than paying separately for each task.

Consumer bankruptcy or other ways of dealing with debt: which is cheaper?

Consumer bankruptcy has lower fees than many other solutions, but it has consequences: during the proceedings, the debtor loses control of their assets and the bankruptcy is recorded in a public register. It is therefore worth comparing bankruptcy with a settlement with creditors or the restructuring of a bank loan before filing an application. A legal consultation costing around PLN 300 can help determine which option makes sense in a particular situation.

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

We provide a similar breakdown of court fees and lawyer’s fees in our article on divorce costs, and discuss notaries’ fees in how much does a notary cost. Other legal and official services can be found in the law and public authorities category.

How can you avoid overpaying for legal assistance with bankruptcy?

• Ask what the price includes: only the application and its attachments, or also handling the case after bankruptcy is declared and contact with the trustee.
• Request a written quote listing the services and the deadline for filing the application.
• Check whether the cost of the initial consultation will be deducted from the fee for further assistance.
• Ask about instalments. For full legal assistance, law firms often allow their fees to be paid in instalments.
• Be wary of promises guaranteeing debt discharge: the court, not the law firm, decides whether debts will be discharged.

Price details, the scope of services and quotes from price lists are available at personal bankruptcy, while rates for a one-off consultation can be found at legal advice.

„Obsługa prawna (przygotowanie wniosku) | od 2 500 zł”

Kancelaria FENIX, 2026, source

„W Warszawie koszty prawnika przy procesie sądowego umorzenia długów mogą wahać się w przedziale od 2 000 zł do 5 000 zł, w zależności od złożoności sprawy oraz doświadczenia adwokata.”

fundacjafair.com, 2025-07, source

„Ustalenie wierzycieli, przygotowanie wniosku o ogłoszenie upadłości z załącznikami | od 900 zł netto”

znanymecenas.pl, source

„Za profesjonalne wsparcie w toku procedury upadłościowej zapłacisz w sumie ok. 4.000-6.000 złotych.”

adwokat-wroclaw.biz.pl, source

The prices in this article come from public law firm price lists and guide articles. Each price is accompanied by its source, date and a verbatim quote on the service page, and we update the medians together with the index (as at 5 October 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Who pays the trustee in consumer bankruptcy?

Wynagrodzenie syndyka pokrywa się z masy upadłości, czyli z majątku i części dochodów dłużnika, a nie z osobnej wpłaty. Przygotowanie samego wniosku przez prawnika to osobny koszt, zwykle PLN 2,500 ‑ 3,500.

How much does a consumer bankruptcy application cost without a lawyer?

Złożenie wniosku samodzielnie kosztuje tylko opłatę sądową PLN 30. Trzeba jednak samemu zebrać listę wierzycieli, zaświadczenia i opis majątku.

Can consumer bankruptcy costs be paid in instalments?

Część kancelarii przyjmuje wynagrodzenie w ratach, zwłaszcza przy pełnej obsłudze za około PLN 7,250. Warto o to zapytać przed podpisaniem umowy.

How much does a lawyer charge for consumer bankruptcy?

Reprezentacja przez adwokata w sprawie upadłości konsumenckiej to w zebranych cennikach około PLN 4,000. Sama pierwsza konsultacja u adwokata kosztuje zwykle PLN 325.

Is free legal assistance available for consumer bankruptcy?

Tak, w punktach nieodpłatnej pomocy prawnej (zwykle w starostwach) można bezpłatnie omówić sytuację. Płatna porada w kancelarii kosztuje dla porównania około PLN 300.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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